In a rematch of last year’s Adult Division I National Championships, the New York Rollin’ Knicks and Dallas Wheelchair Mavericks faced off on Saturday, April 14 at 4:00 p.m. EST
The game was neck and neck throughout the first half, with both teams playing strong, physical defense and neither team gaining a significant lead. By the end of the third quarter, the Knicks held a nine point lead over their Texan rivals. But that all fell apart when the Mavs went on a 12-0 run to open the fourth quarter. The Knicks were able to regain composure, but could not make a basket with 1.3 seconds left in regulation when the game was tied 54-54.
Once overtime hit however, the Knicks put the pedal to the medal. Led by the one-two punch of Steve Serio and Pat Anderson, the Knicks opened overtime with a 5-0 run and won the game 72-59. The Knicks were finally able to avenge their championship losses to the Dallas Wheelchair Mavericks in both 2015 and 2017.
The Adult Division II championships kicked off the Adult Division Championship games on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. EST. The NMCSD Wolfpack was the only West Coast team in any NWBA division to make it to a championship game and defeated the Toronto Rollin’ Raptors, 51-25 to become the Adult Division II National Champions. The Wolfpack started the game with a 10-0 run and kept a strong lead throughout the entire game.
In the Adult Division III pool, the three seed RHI Pacers beat the five seed Harrisonburg Cardinals in a very close matchup, 44-42. The game was within six points the whole game, keeping the crowd energized after a full day of games.
The Junior Divisions played their semi-final games on Saturday to set the stage for their championship games on Sunday. In Junior Varsity Division, the one seed TIRR Hermann Memorial Jr. Hotwheels beat the WASA Jr. Bucks, who entered the tournament as the four seed, 74-52. On the other side of the semi-final bracket, the three seed RHI Racers defeated the two seed Blazesport Jr. Hawks, 56-47. The Hotwheels and Hawks will match up in the championship game on Sunday, April 15, 2:00 p.m. EST.
In the Junior NIT Division, the 17 seed Mary Free Bed Pacers will play in the championships after defeating the Synergy Jr. Bulls in the semi-finals in a tight game, 57-56. The 22 seed Motor City Wheels will be their opponents in the championships after the Wheels beat the 18 seed Mad City Badgers, 32-27, in the semi finals. The NIT Championship game will kick off the Junior Division Championship games on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. EST.
The Junior Prep Division gave fans thrilling semi-finals games as well on Saturday. The Charlotte Rolling Hornets – Purple, who entered the tournament at the three seed, best the two seed LWSRA Jr. Hawks, 24-17. The other prep semi-final game ended with the one seed Minnesota Rolling Rowdies eeking out the victory against the Lakeshore Sharks, 24-21. The Hornets and Sharks will face off in the championship game on Sunday at noon.
All championship games on Sunday will be available for viewing at www.nwba.org/livestream.
These are the award winners for the Adult Divisions:
Adult Division I
1st Team All-Tournament
2nd Team All-Tournament
3rd Team All-Tournament
Adult Division I Tournament MVP
Steve Serio of the New York Rollin’ Knicks
Captain James S. Ure Sportsmanship Award
Michelle Jenkins of the Sacramento Rollin’ Kings
Adult Division II
1st Team All-Tournament
2nd Team
Adult Division II MVP
Matthew Grashen of the NMCSD Wolfpack
Sportsmanship Award
Breanna Clark of the Nassau Kings
Adult Division III
1st Team All-Tournament
2nd Team All-Tournament
3rd Team All-Tournament
Adult Division III MVP
Kyle Killworth of the RHI Pacers
Sportsmanship Awards
Jon McKana of the Seattle Sonics